My first fat tire

[Walker]

Fat Tire was set up perfectly for failure.

I used to drink it when I lived in CA. It was good... not great... but good.

After I moved to NC (where you couldn't get it) it seemed to develop this almost mythical reputation somehow. The suspense built and built and built. I kept telling one of my buddies that he was going to be disappointed when he finally got to try it. When it finally arrived... it was indeed a massive let down to my buddy, as well as many many other folks who had been waiting for it.

Like I said, I always thought it was decent, but not spectacular. The reputation is much better than the beer, IMO.

edit: I really don't care for anything NB produces, to be honest. Ranger is pretty good, but the rest of tastes mediocre to me.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I really like 1554. Fat Tire is the usual option when I go somewhere without a good beer selection.

 

[Walker]

I really like 1554. Fat Tire is the usual option when I go somewhere without a good beer selection.

I thought I liked 1554 at first, but then I realized that I was saying things like "if it was a little more <this> or a little more <that>, it would be excellent". Which means I don't like it, but like what it COULD be with some changes.

+1 on Fat Tire in a pinch. Went to a little sports bar with my son the other night and all they had on tap was Bud, Bud Light, Blue Moon, and Fat Tire. That was an easy choice, but it did just BARELY edge out "ice tea".

 

[humann_brewing]

it's a decent beer and a beer that swings bmc drinkers in to craft but it is just that tasty enough for new comers but not interesting enough to keep them once their in.

Now as far as Ambers, I like Rogue AA, west coast style with some bitterness.

 

[TheGeek]

Fat Tire is one of my favorite commercial brews. Don't drink much of anything off the shelf anymore. Why settle for someone elses beer when you can make your own? hehe.

 

[DKershner]

Am I the only one that thinks Dead Guy ale is a copy of this beer in some ways?

Yes.

One is an amber, one is a maibock ale, which doesnt technically exist. One has a biscuit finish, one has a caramunich finish. If you tasted them next to one another, I doubt you would think so.

Plus, Rogue is older than New Belgium, so the copy would likely be the opposite direction.

 

[Walker]

Yeah... I don't see/taste/smell any similarities between DG and FT.

 

[humann_brewing]

Am I the only one that thinks Dead Guy ale is a copy of this beer in some ways? Ranger, for the price, kicks ass as well, IMO.

huh, those are 2 beers I would not put in the same sentence as tasting like eachother.

If your going that route, I think ranger was a copy of prima pils

 

[Marsdude]

I live fairly close to NB. I have tasted all their beers and many of their "Lips of Faith" brews. I like their beers - I just have other beers I like better. My favorite is probably 2-below.

 

[TRainH2o]

Fat Tire is my least favorite beer from NB. You should try Ranger IPA, out now, and in the fall and winter, Hoptober and 2&#730; Below.

I wish someone would clone Hoptober and 2&#730; Below.

 

[Dr_Gordon_Freeman]

Interesting conversation here.

Incidentally, Fat Tire and Dead Guy are two of my favorite commercial brews

 

[ekranzusch]

+1 on the drinking it on tap only. Also I only drink it in places where they sell enough of it to change the keg every once in a while. Pretty sure it doesn't age well and it doesn't bottle that well either. Kinda makes me wonder. Fresh on tap it's a great beer, bottled from the supermarket = gross.

 

[MacGuffin]

I've enjoyed the Lips Of Faith series NB has done. I've heard good things about their Kriek. But honestly I buy the normal line up (FT, 1554 etc) to distract visitors & family from my secret stash of beer lying around. You guys know that stash right? Hidden away from the SWMBO or that chatty uncle who doesn't really appreciate a good beverage.

 

[bmckee56]

Had my first FT in Fayetville, NC while visiting my son. We then moved on down to Myrtle Beach, SC. and stopped in at a place called "The Beaver Bar" in Murrels Inlet. I liked the FT they had on tap at both locations. Had a slight chocolate finish to me. I have not seen anyone yet state they noted chocolate in FT, but as mentioned previously, everyone has different buds to taste with.

Just brewed up a batch which I was hoping would come close to FT, but I came up short of the mark. It is not carbed fully, but there is definately no chocolate flavor at this time. I only used 1/2lb. of bicuit, and I have had several people tell me this was 1/2lb. short of what I should have had.

In all, it should be an enjoyable brew when ready.

Anyone out there have a reliable recipe for a clone of FT? Sure would appreciate it.

Salute!

 

[muscleshoalsbrewer]

Man I loved FT before I discovered IPA... GOD BLESS THE HOPS!!

 

[Jersh]

I agree with what a lot of you have said in this thread... Back in the day FT used to be one of my favorites... In fact for me, like many others, FT was the first non-BMC beer that I could tolerate. I had my first one in probably 2000 or 2001, and then when I moved to FL in 2003 I went many years without having one. Then last summer I was back home in MO for my old man's 50th birthday party and the bar had FT on tap... I was excited and definitely let down after I had it. I believe the reason is two-fold, main reason is that my tastes have changed and I also believe the beer itself has changed a bit as well.

 

[muscleshoalsbrewer]

@Jerish- Your signature states exactly my thoughts befors I started Homebrewing!

 

[ericd]

Overrated, but not terrible. I give it a solid B.

 

[KillerKellers]

I am not a fan of NB.. I cannot stand FT. I try it every now and again, thinking "so many like it, maybe its me?" and still, I cannot stand it.

1554 is OK
Broken Arrow Pale is the only thing I've had from them that I enjoyed
Mothership is no bueno
Sunshine is off, not sure what is wrong with that beer..

I am surprised they do so well, but I know there are lots that love it. Just goes to show, you can like a style from one brewery and not from the next. Thats what makes beer awesome!

 

[Walker]

Broken Arrow Pale is the only thing I've had from them that I enjoyed

Did you mean "Mighty Arrow"? (With the dog on the bottle)

SWMBO picked some of that up once.
The bottle mentions it having a "honey malt base". I read that and said, "no way... That would be too sweet."

Then I tasted it and now I believe the printing. It was so god aweful sweet that we couldn't finish a bottle between the two of us.

Sunshine is off, not sure what is wrong with that beer..

Hmmmm... Never had or heard of that one.

 

[KillerKellers]

Did you mean "Mighty Arrow"? (With the dog on the bottle)

SWMBO picked some of that up once.
The bottle mentions it having a "honey malt base". I read that and said, "no way... That would be too sweet."

Then I tasted it and now I believe the printing. It was so god aweful sweet that we couldn't finish a bottle between the two of us.


Hmmmm... Never had or heard of that one.

Haha, yeah.. thats the one. Obviously I do not drink much NB! I only had it once and it was awhile ago, I don't remember it being sweet at all. To me, fat tire is sickly sweet and I am pretty sensitive to that. However, I may have had quite a few to drink before I started to drink those, and my palette may have been burned already.

Sunshine Wheat is the other one I was talking about.

 

[Diver165]

Why settle for someone elses beer when you can make your own? hehe.

Here here!!!

Couldn't have said it better! Though commercial backups are necessary when supplies are low. LOL

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

Back home.. 2 of the 6 fat tire are left. I drank ONE. I liked it at first ( as I posted) but by the end of the bottle not so much. I will drink it but not something I'd go out of my way for. I had heard there wa sa micro brewery in Gatlinburh but never got to go this time.

 

[Yooper]

I should say - nasty sweet malt water with an aftertaste like a Pabst Blue Ribbon hangover. I was really surprised to hear it called Belgian - I thought it was more like a cigarette butt floating in Budweiser.

Let the flames begin....

Who said it was a Belgian? It's supposed to be an amber. It even says so right on the bottle. I don't think that anybody would claim it to be a Belgian pale ale.

 

[Bmorebrew]

+1 on the mythology and hype surrounding NB and especially Fat Tire. I went to Ft. Collins for a week in May and had the pleasure of drinking lots of NB and Odell's. The Fat Tire taste was fairly unique to my East Coast palette. I now have a keg of FT clone on tap - did a side by side last night (one of FT, two of mine), pretty much everyone liked mine better than the original. That said, I did come to prefer Odell's by the end of the week. Wish I had more time to drink some of their St. Lupulin, that was real nice.

 

[OzarkPA]

I would second what folks say about FT - I think it was one of the better beers you could get while out, back 'in the day'. Ranger IPA is one of our favorite NB's (and Dead Guy is an old sentimental favorite.... not sure why it gets mentioned in this thread).

For those who like Ranger - you might try Schlafly's A-IPA - it's like Ranger, but a little smoother on the top end. Both are regular 6-packs in my beer fridge!

 

[dfc]

Walkin down the street in Gatlinburg. Saw a sign for FAT TIRE. Bought a sixer and drinkin one now. Very different taste. Not sure yet if I like it or not.

I'm not a big fan of Fat Tire.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

Has anyone wrote NB to let them know what the experts think? Because they still seem to be making a lot of it.

 

[Walker]

Has anyone wrote NB to let them know what the experts think? Because they still seem to be making a lot of it.

What's your point? Anheuser-Busch makes an assload of Bud Light, too. That doesn't mean the beer is good.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

I guess my point is it must be good enough that they can sell it and make money on it. Just like AB does with the beers they make. Just because I don't like a beer doesn't mean it is bad.